News

27 October 2016

As part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s 70^th anniversary celebrations, school pupils in Scotland will provide the inspiration for the 2017 Fringe Programme cover. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society today announced plans for the relaunch of the Fringe Schools Poster Competition, supported by Virgin Money, that will see winning competition entries selected from three age categories, provide the inspiration for three individual cover designs for the 2017 Fringe Programme.

Talking about the relaunch of the competition, Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said:

“The Fringe Schools Poster Competition has been an integral part of the Fringe for 36 years and we are very proud that the competition is one of the longest running arts outreach programmes in Scotland. To coincide with the Fringe’s 70^th anniversary celebrations, we are relaunching the competition and offering three pupils from Scottish schools a unique opportunity to inspire three cover designs for the official 2017 Fringe Programme.

“The Fringe prides itself on its ability to applaud diversity, promote inclusivity and inspire creativity in those who take part. The Fringe Schools Poster Competition was established with these values at its core, encouraging children to get creative. Next year promises to be a very special year for the Fringe and I am delighted that we will be revealing not just one, but three individual programme covers, inspired by school pupils in Scotland.”

In addition to three overall winners in 2017, 14 regional winners will be selected. Their work will be featured in an exhibition of shortlisted entries that will take place at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh between May and August 2017 before touring to locations around Scotland.

This year’s competition will be judged in three different age categories, Primary 1 – 3, Primary 4 –7, and Senior 1 – 6. Pupils are unrestricted in their creativity; photographs, poems, animations – all forms of expressive arts – will be accepted as potential sources of inspiration.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has engaged illustrator, community artist and theatre-maker Jon Bishop, who works under the moniker The Grey Earl, to champion the competition. Jon, known for his popular illustrations including the ‘Batboy’ and ‘Stars are Braw’ series, will lead a Continuous Professional Learning session for teachers in Edinburgh today. He will also sit on the competition’s judging panel and attend the prize-giving ceremony as guest of honour.

Jon said:

“I was thrilled to be asked to champion the 2017 Fringe Schools Poster Competition. The competition is a fantastic initiative to get children thinking creatively and a great opportunity to encourage them to express themselves, be that through designing a poster, taking a photo, or writing a poem.  I am really looking forward to seeing what schoolchildren across the country come up with, inspired by the array of colours and variety that the Fringe provides.”

The Schools Poster Competition will once again be supported by Virgin Money. Head of Sponsorship Marketing at Virgin Money, Andrew Nicholson said:

“Virgin Money is thrilled to continue its support of the Fringe Schools Poster Competition as it enters an exciting new phase. The competition continues to encourage creativity among Scotland’s young artists and this year offers an exciting new prize, with a rare opportunity to inspire the cover design of the official 2017 Fringe Programme. I can’t wait to see what this year’s competition has in store.”

School pupils have until the 03 March 2017 to submit their entries. 

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

For more information, please contact the Fringe Media Office
[email protected] / +44 (0)131 240 1919

Entries for the Fringe Schools Poster Competition should be sent to: Schools Poster Competition, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, 180 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QS no later than 17:00 Friday 03 March 2017.

The competition is open to all Primary 1 to Senior 6 pupils at schools in Scotland. Full details of the competition along with the entry pack, prize information and learning resources can be downloaded at www.edfringe.com/poster.

The prizes for the top three artists and their schools are:
Pupils – £150 (cash) and £150 arts and culture voucher
Schools – £250 (cash) and £250 arts and culture voucher

A new trophy for special achievement in a school will also be awarded in 2017.

In 2016, 395,000 copies of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Programme were printed.